Restore Apple Firmware - Screen Black

Sometimes, after an update, your iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad, or iPhone may not start anymore. Most of the time, a defective or undamaged firmware is the culprit. Here I describe how you can repair or reinstall the Apple firmware.

To restore the firmware of an Apple device (such as a Mac with Apple Silicon or an iOS device), the Apple Configurator can be used. This is helpful if the device no longer starts, the operating system is damaged, or it is not functioning as expected for other reasons.

Here is a summary of the steps to restore the firmware using the Apple Configurator:

Prerequisites:

1. Second Apple device: You need a second Mac with macOS Monterey or later, running the Apple Configurator.
2. Apple Configurator: Download and install the Apple Configurator from the Mac App Store on a working Mac.
3. USB Cable: Connect the defective Apple device to the second Mac using a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable. Note that not all USB C ports work. Depending on the model, only one port supports DFU mode (on the affected device).
   Learn more here: https://support.apple.com/de-de/120694

Steps to restore the firmware:

1. Put the device into DFU mode:

• • Mac with Apple Silicon (M1/M2 chip):
    1. Turn off the Mac.

    2. Press the power button and release it. Then immediately press and hold all four keys on the built-in keyboard simultaneously:

       • Control ⌃ on the left side of the keyboard

       • Option key ⌥ on the left side of the keyboard

       • Shift key ⇧ on the right side of the keyboard

       • Power button
         
         Hold all four keys for about 10 seconds, then release all keys except the power button. Hold the power button for up to 10 more seconds.

  
  

1. Turn off the Mac.
2. Press the power button and release it. Then immediately press and hold all four keys on the built-in keyboard simultaneously:
   
   

   • Control ⌃ on the left side of the keyboard

   • Option key ⌥ on the left side of the keyboard

   • Shift key ⇧ on the right side of the keyboard

   • Power button
     
     Hold all four keys for about 3 seconds, then release all keys.

• Intel iMac / Pro with T2 chip:
  
  
  1. Unplug the iMac.
  2. Hold the power button while plugging in the iMac, until the device appears in the Configurator.

• iPhone or iPad:
  1. Connect the device to the Mac.
  2. Restart the device and press the respective buttons (depending on the model) to start in recovery mode.

2. Display the device in Apple Configurator:

• Open the Apple Configurator on the second Mac.
• Your device should appear in the device list if it is correctly connected in DFU mode.

3. Restore the firmware:

• Select the device in Apple Configurator.
• Click Actions in the menu bar and choose Restore.
• The Apple Configurator will download the latest firmware and install it on the device. This may take some time.
• Once the restoration is complete, the device will restart and should be operational again.

Advantages:

• Complete Restoration: This not only restores the operating system but also the device's firmware, which can fix deeper issues.
• For Various Devices: Works for both Macs (with Apple Silicon or T2 chip) and for iPhones and iPads.

Limitations:

• Data Loss: Restoring the firmware will erase all data on the device. It is advisable to have a backup beforehand.
• Complexity: The process is somewhat technical, especially correctly putting the device into DFU mode.

With the Apple Configurator, the firmware of damaged Apple devices can be restored by connecting them to another Mac, providing an efficient solution for major software issues.

Note: Firmware restoration should only be performed by experienced users who are familiar with the process.